Two Korean heavyweights are now unlikely to get listed on the stock market this year, forcing investors to readjust their bets on the much-anticipated initial public offerings.
Samsung Group said on Wednesday that it has no plans to list shares of Samsung Everland, the group’s de facto holding firm, on the local stock market. Separately, industry sources said Kyobo Life Insurance is now expected to halt its plan to pursue an IPO this year in the face of volatile market conditions.
“We have no plans to list shares of Samsung Everland for years,” said an official at Samsung Group. His remarks came as the Korea Student Aid Foundation plans to sell its 4.25 percent stake in Samsung Everland this week via competitive bidding.
A combined 69.04 percent of Samsung Everland is held by its owner families and affiliates. Samsung Card Co., the group’s credit card issuer, lowered its holding in Samsung Everland to 8.64 percent from an earlier 25.64 percent late last year by selling part of its stake to KCC Corp, a local maker of construction materials.
Meanwhile, Kyobo Life Insurance, the country’s second-largest life insurer, has halted all preparation work required for a listing because the company’s financial status is now sound enough to sustain its overall management without additional funding.
Uncertain market moves stemming from a global economic slowdown and the eurozone debt crisis have forced the life insurer to shun its IPO for now, a Kyobo Life spokesman said.
Due to such a jittery market, other smaller rivals, including Dongbu Life Insurance Co., are more inclined to seek an IPO next year. Hyundai Life Insurance Co., formerly known as Green Cross Insurance Co. before it was acquired by South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, will need at least another year or more to be ready for a listing.
